Israeli Bridge Wins Silver at European Championship

Youth Teams Shine with Three Silver Medals

Israel’s bridge program celebrated a dominant run at the recent European Championship, securing silver medals across three youth age divisions. The Under‑26, Under‑21 and Under‑16 squads each finished second after intense battles that stretched to the final round in Riga, Latvia. This haul follows two bronze medals claimed earlier by Israel’s Open and Mixed Pairs senior teams at the same tournament. Four national teams represented the country, and three of them returned with silver as a testament to the depth of Israeli talent.

The Under‑26 side led the standings for much of the event and remained in contention until the very end. Their success was capped by a dramatic final day where the country faced Poland for the gold medal, ultimately ending second after a photo‑finish. This performance, combined with the other youth silvers, highlighted a competitive surge that positions Israel strongly for future international events.

Team Lineups and Leadership

The rosters and leadership that drove these results were as follows:

• Under‑26 Team: Nir Hotorski, Aviv Zeitak, Daniel Mesika, Ido Mushkovitz, Lia Patleko, Koren Reter. Captain: Danny Loonstein; Coach: Ron Pechtman.
• Under‑21 Team: Eitan Gissin, Sophie Zeidenberg‑Gat, Itamar Herbst, Yoav Shor, Noam Tzarfati, Tommy Hiba. Captain: Tomer Loonstein; Coach: Ron Pechtman.
• Under‑16 Team: Yahli Hiba, Raam Hotorski, Hadassah Weinvitz, Naomi Weinvitz, Aviv Zeidenberg‑Gat, Shira Lahav. Captain: Kfir Meital; Coaches: Moshiko Meyuhas, Ofek Sabach.

Each group exhibited strong coordination and strategic play, with experienced captains guiding younger players toward podium finishes. The shared coaching staff, especially the repeated presence of Ron Pechtman, underscored a unified development approach across age categories.

Administrative Praise and Future Goals

“It is an incredible success,” declared Danny Loonstein, chairman of the Israel Bridge Federation. He noted that eight teams competed across nine categories in senior and youth events, and the delegation returned with a full haul of medals: bronze for the Open and Mixed Pairs senior teams, and silver for the Under‑16, Under‑21 and Under‑26 squads. “I am proud of every member of the delegation, who gave their very best. We will see you next year at the World Championship, with the goal of taking another step forward.”

Arik Kaplan, president and CEO of Ayelet, the umbrella organization for non‑Olympic Israeli sports, also offered congratulations. He highlighted that three youth teams on the podium at the same championship demonstrate the strength of the next generation. Kaplan emphasized that the young athletes represented Israel with pride, determination and excellence, promising an exciting future for bridge on the international stage.

Looking ahead, the federation plans to build on this momentum, targeting higher placements at upcoming global competitions and continuing to develop talent across all age groups. The recent European success is seen as a foundation for elevating Israel’s standing in world bridge.